The Czech Republic is pushing for EU support to enable the Trump administration to cut funding from global broadcasters to remain free Europe/RFE/RL.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Prague-based RFE/RL is “the few reliable sources of dictatorships such as Iran, Belarus and Afghanistan”.
In Eastern Europe, U.S. government-funded media attracted millions of listeners during the Cold War, helping to spread democratic values, while communist authorities strictly controlled local media.
Elon Musk, who is in charge of cost cuts under Donald Trump, dismissed RFE/RL because “radical crazy people talk to themselves while dialing $1B in the currency of the U.S. taxpayer.”
But RFE/RL’s president and CEO Stephen Capus said the grant agreement to broadcasters “will be a huge gift to the enemy of the United States.”
He added: “In Moscow and Minsk, Chinese Communist Party leaders and dictators will celebrate the demise of RFE/RL in 75 years.”
The Independent Commission Protection Journalist (CPJ) appreciates Mr Capps’ attention, which complains that thousands of journalists will be attacked by U.S. fund cuts – and that some of the work in countries under scrutiny are already in “serious danger”.
RFE/RL said it attracts nearly 50 million people per week in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan and the former Soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Lipavsky of the Czech Republic said he would discuss with the EU’s foreign minister “how to maintain its broadcast at least in part.”
RFE/RL, Free Radio Asia and Voice of the United States (VOA) For decades, US Global Media Organizations (USAGM) relied on funds.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday to cut their funds as Musk defies them on X, saying “shut them off.”
The move is in stark contrast to the media policies of the Russian, Chinese and Iranian authorities, which have invested money in its state broadcasters to cope with the influence of Western liberalism around the world.
According to AFP News, most of VOA’s full-time employees have been waived by administrative leave, and broadcaster contractors dominate non-English language services.
